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Top 10 things I have learned from laproscopic cyst/ovary removal
It's been almost 2 weeks since my laproscopic surgery, I have learned alot both from experiencing it and talking to ya'll here on the forum. Time to share, because just maybe somebody is about to go through the same thing and has questions or needs help. It would be great if everyone added their two cents and we will have a nice "what to expect when your expecting laproscopic surgery" list...lol
1. Don't be fooled, this is major surgery. You could be having body parts removed. Don't plan on doing much for at LEAST a week or two. If you are lucky like some, you'll be up and at 'em. But if you're not, then you won't be disappointed and frustrated.
2. Make or buy muffins. Especially bran. You will need them. Don't ask me why. Ok...why? Because your meds will constipate you and make your stomach hurt. AND you will be too tired to make food. You can buy stool softeners too, but they don't make for a tasty breakfast...
3. If you can, shop for or prepare food and stick it in the freezer. And be REALLY REALLY nice to your friends and neighbors before your surgery. They may offer to bring you food. Don't be silly, say yes. You will be glad you did!
4. The CO2 gas may bloat you up. It might not happen for a day or two and you will laugh and say "I am SO lucky!!" and then "POP" You are the now the Pilsbury doughgirl. Only not as cute. But it hurts...not just the shoulder, could be all over. WALK, WALK, WALK.. around the house, it will go away. Could take a week or more, but the worst is the first few days. Try beano, mylanta, etc. too. BEST cure: Massage. Takes away all the toxins, pushes out some gas. Can't get one?... be REALLY REALLY nice to your spouse, significant other, children, whoever.... they may take pity on poor ol' bloated you and help you out.
5. Get one of those beanybag things that you put in the microwave. Put it on where it hurts. Warm feels nice and you can't get in the tub for two weeks. Your body might hurt all over. They say they don't drop you off the stretcher while you are unconscious, but I personally don't believe it...
6. Enjoy your downtime. Remember all those busy days you wished you could lie around, play on the computer, read books, organize your photos, google your old boyfriend, write that novel? Well, do it. Or sleep. Or both.
7. Sleep. Sleep some more.
8. Driving sucks. Try and avoid it until your incisions/stomach muscles don't hurt. (and you're not on happypills anymore...) It's illegal in most states to drive lying down, I believe...
9. Drink lots of water. Flushes out all the stuff they pumped into you during surgery. Fluffs out the sleep wrinkles in your face..
10. Get on this forum when you can. You will find wonderful women with supportive notes, messages, laughs, and you can read others stories to know whether you are "normal" or not (in terms of your surgery - if you want deeper analysis, try the psych forum...)
That's MY top ten, I hope you all can add a few of your own! Thanks everyone for ALL your help, info, and especially the friendship and laughter.
Have a great day!
Joelle
1. Don't be fooled, this is major surgery. You could be having body parts removed. Don't plan on doing much for at LEAST a week or two. If you are lucky like some, you'll be up and at 'em. But if you're not, then you won't be disappointed and frustrated.
2. Make or buy muffins. Especially bran. You will need them. Don't ask me why. Ok...why? Because your meds will constipate you and make your stomach hurt. AND you will be too tired to make food. You can buy stool softeners too, but they don't make for a tasty breakfast...
3. If you can, shop for or prepare food and stick it in the freezer. And be REALLY REALLY nice to your friends and neighbors before your surgery. They may offer to bring you food. Don't be silly, say yes. You will be glad you did!
4. The CO2 gas may bloat you up. It might not happen for a day or two and you will laugh and say "I am SO lucky!!" and then "POP" You are the now the Pilsbury doughgirl. Only not as cute. But it hurts...not just the shoulder, could be all over. WALK, WALK, WALK.. around the house, it will go away. Could take a week or more, but the worst is the first few days. Try beano, mylanta, etc. too. BEST cure: Massage. Takes away all the toxins, pushes out some gas. Can't get one?... be REALLY REALLY nice to your spouse, significant other, children, whoever.... they may take pity on poor ol' bloated you and help you out.
5. Get one of those beanybag things that you put in the microwave. Put it on where it hurts. Warm feels nice and you can't get in the tub for two weeks. Your body might hurt all over. They say they don't drop you off the stretcher while you are unconscious, but I personally don't believe it...
6. Enjoy your downtime. Remember all those busy days you wished you could lie around, play on the computer, read books, organize your photos, google your old boyfriend, write that novel? Well, do it. Or sleep. Or both.
7. Sleep. Sleep some more.
8. Driving sucks. Try and avoid it until your incisions/stomach muscles don't hurt. (and you're not on happypills anymore...) It's illegal in most states to drive lying down, I believe...
9. Drink lots of water. Flushes out all the stuff they pumped into you during surgery. Fluffs out the sleep wrinkles in your face..
10. Get on this forum when you can. You will find wonderful women with supportive notes, messages, laughs, and you can read others stories to know whether you are "normal" or not (in terms of your surgery - if you want deeper analysis, try the psych forum...)
That's MY top ten, I hope you all can add a few of your own! Thanks everyone for ALL your help, info, and especially the friendship and laughter.
Have a great day!
Joelle
Hi! I'm 22 years old and I have a 7cm dermoid cyst on my right ovary. I'm a registered nurse and I have no idea of this dermoid cyst until i was diagnosed just this Aug. It was accidental while i was having my KUB ultrasound which was normal, then they saw that cyst and referred me to an OB. I had another UTZ (transrectal) which now identified and measured my cyst. I know I have to go under surgery but my OB is suggesting to have a pelvic laparotomy only, I have been reading that most of you guys had a laparoscopy the non invasive procedure with 3 small incisions only. What do you think guys should I have laparotomy or laparoscopy? Please help!
I'll add my story as to this post.
I'm 19 right now and am in nursing school. Last October, 2012, I started having pain on a Friday night which I just thought was a stomach bug. The next morning when I was going to work, I was really nauseous and still having the severe abdominal pain. A few weeks before I was having issues with ovarian cysts and my gynecologist had set up an ultrasound for the end of October. I called them up on a Saturday and went to the ER to get an ultra sound done. I was told I had cystic ovaries which I new but nothing major and was sent home with some pain meds and meds for nausea. By that Tuesday, I went in for another ultrasound at my gynecologist and was told that I had a large twisting dermoid tumor on my left ovary (about 8 cm). How they missed that at the hospital was beyond me.
I was then scheduled for surgery that Thursday and was told that I could not go back to work for a week after my surgery.
The pain got worse and worse leading up until that Thursday. On the day of I was so nauseous that they had to give me Zofran via IV. My Mom helped me mentally prepare for surgery and drove me there on the day of. I'm grateful my Mom was there with me, but I also wish I had known about this website as well. After the surgery and when I got home, I needed help getting in and out of bed since it is pretty high and the pain, especially the gas pain, was dreadful.
In the follow up appointment a week later, I was told that it would be anywhere from 10-20 years until I got another dermoid tumor again which would then put me in my 30s or 40s. Less than a year later, this past Thursday, I was told that I have another dermoid tumor. They're not going to do surgery on it right away since it's not causing constant pain but observe it again in another six weeks. My doctor did tell me that I would most likely need to have surgery again in another 2 months. I just don't want it to happen again.
I'm 19 right now and am in nursing school. Last October, 2012, I started having pain on a Friday night which I just thought was a stomach bug. The next morning when I was going to work, I was really nauseous and still having the severe abdominal pain. A few weeks before I was having issues with ovarian cysts and my gynecologist had set up an ultrasound for the end of October. I called them up on a Saturday and went to the ER to get an ultra sound done. I was told I had cystic ovaries which I new but nothing major and was sent home with some pain meds and meds for nausea. By that Tuesday, I went in for another ultrasound at my gynecologist and was told that I had a large twisting dermoid tumor on my left ovary (about 8 cm). How they missed that at the hospital was beyond me.
I was then scheduled for surgery that Thursday and was told that I could not go back to work for a week after my surgery.
The pain got worse and worse leading up until that Thursday. On the day of I was so nauseous that they had to give me Zofran via IV. My Mom helped me mentally prepare for surgery and drove me there on the day of. I'm grateful my Mom was there with me, but I also wish I had known about this website as well. After the surgery and when I got home, I needed help getting in and out of bed since it is pretty high and the pain, especially the gas pain, was dreadful.
In the follow up appointment a week later, I was told that it would be anywhere from 10-20 years until I got another dermoid tumor again which would then put me in my 30s or 40s. Less than a year later, this past Thursday, I was told that I have another dermoid tumor. They're not going to do surgery on it right away since it's not causing constant pain but observe it again in another six weeks. My doctor did tell me that I would most likely need to have surgery again in another 2 months. I just don't want it to happen again.
I would certainly talk to another doctor about options. If they say the pain is related to the cyst I would ask them if it could be due to the cyst twisting and cutting off blood supply. The more it twists, the more pain you will be in until the pain is constant. I would ask them what type of cyst/tumor it is just so you could gather what more information on it. There are several different types and not all of them are cancerous. As for loosing a whole ovary, it would all depend on where the cyst is and how far into the ovary it is. If it's on the edge, then the ovary could be saved easily. For the recovery time it is different for everyone, but for a cyst that size, it shouldn't be more than a week as long as there are no other complications. That is the average time for recovery according to all of the medical staff.
This happened to me last year and that was how I was diagnosed with Dermoid tumors and now the pain is starting again and we're talking about another surgery already. The surgery is up to you and would be something to talk to the OBGYN about.
One other thing to think about would be having your appendix looked at as well since on and off pain in the lower right quadrant can be an early sign of appendicitis. They removed mine when I was in for surgery since it was showing signs.
I hope that your appointment goes well and that this helps!
This happened to me last year and that was how I was diagnosed with Dermoid tumors and now the pain is starting again and we're talking about another surgery already. The surgery is up to you and would be something to talk to the OBGYN about.
One other thing to think about would be having your appendix looked at as well since on and off pain in the lower right quadrant can be an early sign of appendicitis. They removed mine when I was in for surgery since it was showing signs.
I hope that your appointment goes well and that this helps!
Well, thank you. I'll take that into consideration. I have an appointment with another obgyn on the 29th to discuss all of my options. So, I guess for right now its just going to be a waiting game.
Hi biancab22,
I just read your post and noted your are just 21 years old.
I am not in any medical field but with my experience I think that I can tell you my experience. But the decision is yours 100%.
First of all get a second opinion.
I am 53, I had a 6cm complex cyst in my right ovary and a 3cm simple cyst in my left ovary.
My Doctor (OB/GYN) pushed me for Surgery.
I honestly was so depressed and I do not want to loose any of my organs,
I researched through the net and got some herbal treatments.
I had an ultrasound done last month and the result is:
The previously noted 6cm complex ovarian cyst has resolved and the 3cm simple cyst has shrink to 1.7mm.
If I were you, and to be this young just 21, I would definitely get a second opinion. ONCE WE LOOSE OUR OVARIES OR ANY PART OF OUR ORGANS THEY ARE GONE MY DEAR. YES THEY ARE GONE FOR GOOD AND CAN NEVER BEEN REPLACED. I was crying and crying all day long while I had this cyst, the reason I was crying was because I did not want to loose my precious ovaries.
Take care biancab22 and keep us posted on how you are feeling.
God bless.
I just read your post and noted your are just 21 years old.
I am not in any medical field but with my experience I think that I can tell you my experience. But the decision is yours 100%.
First of all get a second opinion.
I am 53, I had a 6cm complex cyst in my right ovary and a 3cm simple cyst in my left ovary.
My Doctor (OB/GYN) pushed me for Surgery.
I honestly was so depressed and I do not want to loose any of my organs,
I researched through the net and got some herbal treatments.
I had an ultrasound done last month and the result is:
The previously noted 6cm complex ovarian cyst has resolved and the 3cm simple cyst has shrink to 1.7mm.
If I were you, and to be this young just 21, I would definitely get a second opinion. ONCE WE LOOSE OUR OVARIES OR ANY PART OF OUR ORGANS THEY ARE GONE MY DEAR. YES THEY ARE GONE FOR GOOD AND CAN NEVER BEEN REPLACED. I was crying and crying all day long while I had this cyst, the reason I was crying was because I did not want to loose my precious ovaries.
Take care biancab22 and keep us posted on how you are feeling.
God bless.
I'm 21 y.o. and am in the Air Force. I've been having a slight pain in my lower right abdomen for the past few months. The first time I went to a military doctor, they said it was just due to bowel moveent. maybe two months later I went back twice because I was sick, I also told them that the pain was still there and was told it was bowel movement again.. Finally last week, I saw a different doctor due to a cold I got and told them I had a pain in my stomach which I thought it was due to coughing. He didn't think it was and said we should do more investigating since there has been multiple reports for this pain. This past monday, I had an ultrasound and pelvic exam done and found out I have a 7 x 5 x 7 cm cyst in my right ovary. I was told that considering the size of this cyst, it's not going to go away on its own like a "normal" cyst would. So invasive procedures may need to be done.. Being in the military, there arent many doctors that have specialties for this kind of thing, so I have to go off base to "confirm" that I actually do need surgery to get it out. Which is going to be a long wait to get all this crap going due to paperwork and typical military " hurry up and wait ". Then once I get that "confirmation", I'll have to wait to get the surgery die to even more paperwork!! The pain is bearable, yet I can tell that it's getting worse. Walking around for long periods of time, I start getting sore on my right side and I feel like theres a constant cramp. Lately, my right side seems to be getting a little more tender to touch. So, can I expect to actually be "confirmed" to get surgery? I've read so many posts on here saying that they did for even a smaller cyst than mine.. I guess you can say all of this really hasnt hit me mentally yet. I'm still in that shocked kind of mood.. like this cant really be happening. And if I do get surgery, How is the recovery time? I've seen so many different posts about how they think they should have waited a bit longer before resuming normal activities.. I know people are different, I see some people it only took a few days, while others took months!
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